The Dept. of Health has just announced a major consultation on the introduction of the Statutory Duty of Candour. This is a significant proposal, as the DoH’s overview explains:
“This consultation sets out a proposed addition to the Care Quality Commission’s (CQC) registration requirements in order to introduce a statutory Duty of Candour on all providers registered with the CQC.”
The introduction of a statutory Duty of Candour is a major step towards implementing a key recommendation from the Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust Public Inquiry (the Francis Inquiry). The Duty of Candour will place a requirement on providers of health and adult social care to be open with patients when things go wrong. Providers should establish the duty throughout their organisations, ensuring that honesty and transparency are the norm in every organisation overseen by the CQC.
The Duty of Candour will be one of the new set of registration requirements that together will set out the clear outcomes that providers must meet, which will be core to good service provision. This consultation on the statutory Duty of Candour follows on from a a separate consultation on regulations that will introduce the fundamental standards of care. Subject to Parliamentary approval, these registration requirements will become part of the same consolidated package of regulations, to be introduced in October 2014.”
The consultation runs until 25th April 2014. Many carers may have views on the proposals. You may submit your views online, by email, or by post.
See the DoH survey page http://consultations.dh.gov.uk/standards/duty-of-candour/consult_view
or contact the Consultation Coordinator:
Jeremy Nolan
Room 2E11, Quarry House
Quarry Hill , Leeds
LS2 7UE
Tel. 0113 254 6573
Email,jeremy.nolan@dh.gsi.gov.uk